ABSTRACT
Subsurface ambient air conditions are often regulated for underground mines and conventional mine cooling systems are usually designed using semi-empirical models. Although, these systems offer quite good approximation of the reality, they often neglect the impact of several important factors (i.e., nozzle outlet velocity, droplet size distribution, nozzle angle and so on) by relying on empirically assessable cases which were not monitored based on such parameters. Also, conventionally used empirical models mainly rely on sensible heat exchange equations, assuming limited evaporation/condensation in the chamber. However, this does not precisely represent the actual conditions. In this paper, a computational-fluid-dynamics and a heat transfer model is developed and validated in the light of readily available wind-tunnel measurements to better understand often-ignored operational parameters of such cooling systems. The CFD model is then compared with the empirical model results showing good agreement but representing the reality with more control over such operational parameters. This study not only justifies the earlier work done in the field, but also creates an opportunity for probable integration of the proposed model to the modern large-scale bulk-air-cooler design process with a higher degree of flexibility in parametric understanding.
